Text Analysis Of STEM Curriculum Content In American Junior High School Physics Textbooks

Since the 1990 s,under the impact of the economic tide,countries around the world have begun to seek ways and means to rapidly improve the country’s core competitiveness.The STEM education advocated by the United States has been gradually promoted worldwide,setting off a STEM education boom.Based on the above background,this study starts with the American localized scientific textbook "Scientific Explorer".The author analyzes the presentation and characteristics of the STEM course content,and explores the essential connotation of science and technology,as well as the relationship between S,T,E and M,aims to provide some ideas for the preparation of science textbooks and curriculum reform in China.Based on the theory of scientific practice philosophy,philosophy of technology,constructivist theory and situational learning theory,this study combines there existing analytical frameworks to conduct research,and has obtained the following conclusions.In the content presentation of STEM courses,the textbooks creating a close connection with real life situations,emphasizing on the importance of original physics problems and diversity of solutions,showing the valuable load of science and technology and their frequent interaction with society,highlighting the importance of digital technology for scientific activities,paying attention to the interdisciplinary nature of STEM education and thinking highly of the important position of communication and cooperation in scientific inquiry activities.In the internal connection of S,T,E,and M,American textbooks have the following characteristics.Science is the theoretical basis of technology,and the latter is the methodological arm of the former,mathematics is the path and method dependence of science,technology and engineering,engineering is a theory to "use" science,technology and mathematics.In addition,there are still some shortcomings in the textbooks on the nature of science and technology,as well as the relationship between man and nature.In terms of the nature of science,at the top of the list,the lackof scientific history in textbooks makes it easy for students to form a scientific tense of "co-temporal".In the second place,the racism in textbooks is obvious,the lack of minority contributions to science,which is not conducive to American ethnic issues.Last but not least,there is insufficient attention to the sociocultural nature of science,such that students will form a one-sided scientific essence.As for the nature of technology,the instrumentalism in textbooks which makes it easy for students to form a one-sided technical essence.As far as the relationship between man and nature is concerned,the textbooks present the shallow ecological outlook of nature in the human center.Finally,under the conditions of China’s national conditions and based on the results of the analysis,the author tries to put forward several suggestions for the compilation of science textbooks in China.We need to pay attention to the presentation of the essence of science and technology in textbooks,to the role of history of science and technology in science education,to the sociality of science and technology.Meanwhile we should dynamically demonstrate the relationship between science and technology,strive to present a deep ecological view of nature,and affirm the contribution of ethnic minorities to science and technology when to compile science textbooks.